Folding platform and blackboard



May 30, 1933. 'H' Q REUTER 1,912,96

A FOLDING PLATFORM AND BLACKBOARD Filed Feb. 4, 1929 A 3 WQ 9 EIO 6" 1. 5

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1933 Unire gSTATES PAT HANS C. REUTER, OF LA GROSSE, VJISCONSN FOLDING PLATFORM ANB BLACKBOARD Application led February 4, 1929. Serial No. 337,337.

claimed.

An obj ect of my invention is to provide a folding platform of a type in which a'blackboard is mounted upon the underneath side of the platform whereby the device may be used for a platform when in its lowered position, and as a blackboard when in its raised position.

A further object is to provide a combination folding platform and blackboard and in which means is provided for adjustably mounting the blackboard.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described in which means is provided whereby the device may be easily and quickly moved to the various desired positions.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specificati on, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of my device in its lowered position and also showing the platform in its raised position,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of my device,

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 4,

Figure 4 is a view looking at the underneath side of the platform when the latter is in its raised position, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view of a portion of my device.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a pair of end base members 1 having an upright support 2 and a diagonal brace member 3. The end base members are tied tol' gether by means of suitable braces 4. A pair of castors 5 is mounted to the members i as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

A platform 6 is pivotally mounted at 7 upon the supports 2. The platform cit-mprises end frame members S and 9 and side frame members 10 and 11. A. floor 12 is secured to the frame members 8 to 11, inclusive.

The platform 6 is supported in the position shown in Figure 1 by means of legs 13 which are pivotally mounted at 14tto the end i frame members 8 and 9. The legs are additionally supported by means of a link member 15 disposed upon each end of the platform. A front brace member 16 additionally supports the legs. The link members 15 are pivotally secured to the legs 13 at 17 and the standards 2 at 18. The standards are recessed at 19 for receiving a portion of the frame member 10 when the platform is in its raised position, as shown in Figure 1.

ln referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that l have mounted a blackboard 2O upon the underneath side of the platform 6 comprising the frame members 8 to 11, inclusive,

and the floor 12. A pair of cross members 21 is secured to the underneath side of the floor 12 and is provided with suitable ratchetv like construction 22, see Figure 3. A. second pair 'of cross members 23 is secured to the underneath side of the platform and is provided with suitable guide members 24 arranged to slidably support the frame portion 25 of the blackboard. rEhe guide members 24E may be secured to the cross members 23 by any suitable means7 such as screws 26, see Figure 5.

rEhe blackboard 2O is provided with a pair of pawl-like members 27 arranged to engage the ratchets 22. The pawls 27 are provided with gripping portions 28 and are pivotally mounted at 29 upon the lower portionr of the frame of the blackboard. v

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. When the platform 6 is in the full line position shown in Figure 1, the floor 12 provides a suitable platform. The platform may be raised into the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 when it is desired to provide more room, as when the platform is being used in a confined space. Nhen the platform 6 is raised,the legs 13 are folded underneath the floor l2 alongside the end frame members 8 and 9, as

shown in Figure 4. This movement of the legs is automatic by reason of the links 15.

In referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the guide members 24e are mounted for permitting the blackboard 2O to be lifted past the frame member 11, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. IVhen it is desired to raise or lower the platform, the pawls 27 are moved by grasping the gripping portions 28, at which time the blackboard will be free to be raised or lowered, as desired. rIhe black-V board may be secured in any desired position by merely moving the pawls 27 into `engagement with the ratchets 2Q. It will be seen that I have provided a device which may be employed as a platform or a blackboard, and a construction in which the blackboard may be easily and quickly adjusted to various heights, whereby a convenient writing surface is provided. The entire device may be easily moved from one portion of a room to another by reason of the castors 5. INhen it is desired to employ the blackboard, the platform is raised into the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. When the platform is in its lowered position anything previously written on the blackboard is protected or concealed and may be brought into position to be viewed when the platform is raised. Furthermore, the legs 13 and the links 15 are automatically folded within the frame of the platform when the latter is raised.

I claim: n

1. In a device of the type described, the combination of a base provided with two short spaced-apart upright portions, a substantially rectangular platform frame provided with side portions and end portions, legs spaced apart from the base and pivotally carried by the platform frame, links pivotally connected to the upright portions and to the legs carried by the frame whereby the legs and the links are folded within the platform frame and the platform is raised to a vertical position, a blackboard slidably carried within the platform frame, said blackboard being provided with guide and ratchet bar means secured to and extending transversely of said frame, and ratchet means pivotally connected to the blackboard whereby the blackboard may be adjustably supported in the raised position on the platform, said end portions being each pivotally connected to the upright portions intermediate of the center of the end portions and one side of the platform.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a base provided with two short spaced-apart upright portions, a substantially rectangular platform frame provided with side portions and end portions, legs spaced apart from the base and pivotally carried by the platform frame, links pivotally connected to the upright portions and to the legs carried by the frame whereby the legs and the links are folded Within the platform frame and the platform is raised to a verticalposition, a blackboard slidably carried within the platform frame, said blackboard being provided with guide and ratchet bar means secured to and extending transversely of said frame, and ratchet means pivn otally connected to the blackboard whereby the blackboard may be adjustably supported in the raised position on the platform, said end portions being each pivotally connected to the upright portions intermediate of the center of the end portions and one side of the platform, said end portions being each pivotally connected to the legs intermediate of the center of the end portions and the other side of the platform.

Signed at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of WVisconsin this 17th day of January, A. D. 1929.

HANS C. REUTER. 

